Fence

ABSTRACT

An elastomeric fence includes a plurality of posts each including at least one recess on either side, the recess having two opposite first members; a plurality of rails each at its either half portion including two opposite second members adapted to matingly engage with the first members when the post and the rail are connected together, and a beveled edge proximate either end; and a plurality of folding members each including two units pivotably coupled together, each unit including at its one end two opposite third members adapted to matingly engage with the first members when the post and the folding member are connected together, and a beveled edge proximate either end. The fence can be easily assembled and is rot proof, rust proof, simple in construction, and lightweight.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1) Field of Invention

The present invention relates to the construction and assembly of fencesand more particularly to a fence that can be easily assembled withoutuse of tools or fasteners and is rot proof, rust proof, aesthetic,simple in construction, and lightweight.

2) Related Art

Wood fences require constant attention because of rot and termites.Also, preservative treatment is required. Metal fences are subject torust and have other drawbacks. Thus, plastic fences are commerciallyavailable. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,700,213 (hereinafter “the '213patent”) describes a plastic fence as shown in FIG. 1. The fencecomprises a plurality of posts 18 having two vertical series of openings36; and a plurality of rails 16 having two end enlargements 40 eachadapted to lockingly receive within the opening 36 by snap-in due to thenature of plastic material. Fence of the '213 patent can be easilyassembled and is highly adaptable. However, its constructions arerelatively complex.

Taiwanese Utility Model Patent No. 252,510 discloses a metal fencehaving a plurality of first posts interconnected by a plurality of railsby snap-in as shown in FIG. 2. Also, two second posts are providedbetween any two adjacent posts and are secured to the rails by snap-in.The fence disclosed in the Taiwanese Patent can be easily assembled andis highly adaptable. However, its constructions are still relativelycomplex and it is subject to rust. Thus, the need for improvement stillexists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a fenceformed of an elastomeric material comprising a plurality of posts eachincluding at least one recess on either side, the recess having twoopposite first members; a plurality of rails each at its either halfportion including two opposite second members adapted to matingly engagewith the first members when the post and the rail are connectedtogether, and a beveled edge proximate either end; and a plurality offolding members each including two units pivotably coupled together,each unit including at its one end two opposite third members adapted tomatingly engage with the first members when the post and the foldingmember are connected together, and a beveled edge proximate either end.By utilizing the present invention, a fence having the followingadvantages is obtained. The advantages include easy assembly without useof tools or fasteners, being rot proof, rust proof, aesthetic, simple inconstruction, and lightweight.

In one aspect of the present invention either the first member is aprotrusion and each of the second and the third members is anindentation or the first member is an indentation and each of the secondand the third members is a protrusion.

In another aspect of the present invention one unit of the foldingmember at its other end includes a bifurcation and a fourth member on aninner wall of either half of the bifurcation, and the other unit of thefolding member at its other end includes a projecting cylinder having afifth member on either end, the fifth members being adapted to matinglyengage with the fourth members when the cylinder is inserted into aspace defined by the bifurcation.

In yet another aspect of the present invention either the fourth memberis a protrusion and the fifth member is an indentation or the fourthmember is an indentation and the fifth member is a protrusion.

In a further aspect of the present invention the post is hollow andconsists of two identical halves, and the post further comprises aplurality of internal tabs and a plurality of internal holes adapted tolockingly receive the tabs by snapping.

In yet further aspect of the present invention the rail is hollow andconsists of two identical halves, and the rail further comprises aplurality of first elements and a plurality of second elements adaptedto lockingly receive the first elements by snapping.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following detailed descriptiontaken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically depicts post, rail, and their connections accordingto U.S. Pat. No. 3,700,213;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another fence according to TaiwaneseUtility Model Patent No. 252,510;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a portion of fence according to theinvention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view showing the connections of post,rails, and folding member of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the area in circle of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the post of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the rail of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the folding member of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the assembled folding member of FIG. 8showing a pivoting of the pivot member relative to the folding member;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a rectangular fence constructed inaccording to a first preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a triangular fence constructed inaccording to a second preferred embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a circular fence constructed inaccording to a third preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 3, an elastomeric fence in accordance with theinvention comprises a plurality of posts 1, a plurality of rails 2, anda plurality of folding members 3 in an exploded view. Each component isdiscussed in detailed below.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the post 1 comprises two vertical series ofrecesses 7 on both sides. Each parallelepiped recess 7 has a topprotrusion 4 and a bottom protrusion 4 vertically aligned therewith. Theprotrusion 4 has a half-spherical shape. The folding member 3 at eitherend includes a top indentation 13, a bottom indentation 13, and abeveled edge 14. The indentations 13 are dimensioned and shaped tosnugly engage with the protrusions 4 as end of the folding member 3inserts into the recess 7. As a result, the post 1 and the foldingmember 3 are lockingly engaged together. Similarly, the rail 2 at eitherend includes a top indentation 9, a bottom indentation 9, and a bevelededge 10. The indentations 9 are dimensioned and shaped to snugly engagewith the protrusions 4 as end of the rail 2 inserts into the recess 7.As a result, the post 1 and the rail 2 are lockingly engaged together.

Referring to FIG. 6, the hollow post 1 in its exploded view consists oftwo identical halves. The post 1 comprises, in addition to the recesses7 and the protrusions 4, a plurality of tabs 6 in a snapping section 5,and a plurality of holes 8 adapted to lockingly receive the tabs 6. As aresult, both-halves of the post 1 are adapted to fasten together bysnap-in.

Referring to FIG. 7, the hollow rail 2 in its exploded view consists oftwo identical halves coupled together by snap-in. The rail 2 comprisesat either end includes the top indentation 9, the bottom indentation 9,and the beveled edge 10 as described above.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, components and assembly of the foldingmember 3 and a pivot member are shown. The folding member 3 comprises abifurcation 12 at one end, and a projection 11 on an inner wall ofeither half of the bifurcation 12. The pivot member comprises aprojecting cylinder 15 at one end, the cylinder 15 having a cavity 16 oneither end. The cavities 16 are matingly engaged with the projections 11when the cylinder 15 is inserted into a space defined by the bifurcation12. As an end, the folding member 3 and the pivot member are pivotablysecured together. The pivot member further comprises two grooves 13 onboth sides in addition to the beveled edge 14 at the other end. As shownin FIG. 9, the assembled pivot member is adapted to pivot about at most280 degrees relative to the folding member 3.

Referring to FIG. 10, a rectangular fence is constructed in according toa first preferred embodiment of the invention. A plurality of posts 1are connected together by a plurality of rails 2 to form one side of arectangle in a first step. Next, perform the first step four times.Next, connect two adjacent sides of the rectangle together by twofolding members 3 in a second step until a rectangle fence is finished.Finally, insert two pegs 17 assembled with the lower rails 2 into theground for installing the fence in a third step.

Referring to FIG. 11, a triangular fence is constructed in according toa second preferred embodiment of the invention. Similar to the firstpreferred embodiment, a plurality of posts 1 are connected together by aplurality of rails 2 to form one side of a triangle in a first step.Next, perform the first step three times. Finally, connect two adjacentsides of the triangle together by two folding members 3 in a second stepuntil a triangular fence is finished.

Referring to FIG. 12, a circular fence is constructed in according to athird preferred embodiment of the invention in which a plurality ofposts 1 are connected together by a plurality of rails 2.

While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means ofspecific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could bemade thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from thescope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.

1. A fence formed of an elastomeric material comprising: a plurality ofposts each including at least one recess on either side, the recesshaving two opposite first members; a plurality of rails each at itseither half portion including two opposite second members adapted tomatingly engage with the first members when the post and the rail areconnected together, and a beveled edge proximate either end; and aplurality of folding members each including two units pivotably coupledtogether, each unit including at its one end two opposite third membersadapted to matingly engage with the first members when the post and thefolding member are connected together, and a beveled edge proximateeither end.
 2. The fence of claim 1, wherein the first member is aprotrusion and each of the second and the third members is anindentation.
 3. The fence of claim 1, wherein the first member is anindentation and each of the second and the third members is aprotrusion.
 4. The fence of claim 1, wherein one unit of the foldingmember at its other end includes a bifurcation and a fourth member on aninner wall of either half of the bifurcation, and the other unit of thefolding member at its other end includes a projecting cylinder having afifth member on either end, the fifth members being adapted to matinglyengage with the fourth members when the cylinder is inserted into aspace defined by the bifurcation.
 5. The fence of claim 4, wherein thefourth member is a protrusion and the fifth member is an indentation. 6.The fence of claim 4, wherein the fourth member is an indentation andthe fifth member is a protrusion.
 7. The fence of claim 1, wherein thepost is hollow and consists of two identical halves, and wherein thepost further comprises a plurality of internal tabs and a plurality ofinternal holes adapted to lockingly receive the tabs by snapping.
 8. Thefence of claim 1, wherein the rail is hollow and consists of twoidentical halves, and wherein the rail further comprises a plurality offirst elements and a plurality of second elements adapted to lockinglyreceive the first elements by snapping.